The 61-year-old was silent as he was taken to Metro Jail Tuesday morning, for a murder that happened 39 years ago Wednesday.

“We never give up we never stop looking for new information so we can potentially solve these cases,” said Mobile Police Chief Lawrence Battiste.

Sandra Williams was 19-years-old when she was found dead on September 11, 1980, on a dead end street in Toulminville. That street, Clemente Court, now a cul-de-sac, is nearly eight miles away from her apartment complex on Azalea Road. Investigators say she was raped and stabbed.

“I’m glad they got him,” said one man who lives near Allen on West Cheshire Dr.

Allen lives 10 miles from where Williams was found.

Investigators came to try to arrest him on a Grand Jury secret indictment connected with the case.

Police say he barricaded himself in his home with his wife inside. SWAT was called to the scene to attempt to get Allen to leave the home. His wife came out voluntarily. And after SWAT broke down his door, Allen surrendered to police. Another person was also taken out of the home.

“It blows my mind, hallelujah it’s over with,” said a witness to the barricade situation.